Automatic sheet-feeding device



Feb. 9,1926. [1,572,640 w. F. BUTLER AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVI-CE Filed-Oct. 20.1923 7 sheets-sheaf ATTORNEY Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,640

W. F. BUTLER AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 3% :4 M

Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,640

w. F. BUTLER AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1923 7 sheets-sheet x N B .Mr ,4 Y'TORNEY W. FJBUTLER.

7 AUTOMATIC SHEET EEED'I-NG DEVICE Filed 001;. 20, 192

3 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE Y Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,640

w. F. BUTLER I AUTOMATIC- SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Oct. 20., 192z 7 Sheets-Sheet INV'NTOR.

I 9 19260 5 I W. F. BUTLER v I AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Fi1ed Oct. 20 1923 '7 Sheets-Sitet-zt v 7 WATTORNEY INVENTOR. 1% 52% BY Patented Pea-e, 926,

UNITED STATES 1,572,640 PATENT" OFFICE.

, WILLIAM'EBUTLER, or HILLSIDE, NE JERSEY, ASSIGNOB i'ro AMERICAN can serum, or NEW Yonx, N. Y7, A conrom'rron or NEW .JnnsnY.

AUTOMATIC SHEET-FEEDING DEVICE.

AppIicationfiled'October 20, 1923. sees in. 668,825:

To all wliom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WI LIAM F. Burma,

a citizen of the United States, residingin Hillside, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and. useful Improvement in Automatic Sheet- Feeding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sheet feeding mechanisms and has more particular reference to mechanisms of the character particularly adapted for the feeding of metal sheets, such as tin plate and the like. While the invention will hereinafter be described as specially constructed for the fe'edingof sheets-of tin plate to sheet cleaning, sheet oiling. or ,sheet slitting mechanism, it will be readily manifest that it has valuable application in other connections both in its entirety and in the use of its individual and, several features.

A. principal object of tion is the provision of a sheet feeding mechanism which may be operated continuousl and into which successive quantities of s eets may be inserted for feedmg without in any-way affecting the feeding action or necessitating its interruption, and the accomplishment as an additional important object ,offthis advantage in a sheet feeding' mechanism in which the. sheets are stacked on edge and maybe removed without the necessity of overcoming the considerable friction resultant from the motion 'of a bottommost sheet .of a stack in which the sheets rest one upon the other.

- Another important ob'ect of tion is the provision o va -sheet feeding mechanism of continuous operatlon which will re uire relatively light. sheet separat ing an moving elements and which'may be operated {at high spced. a

Another important. b'ect of theinvention is the provision o a sheet feeding mechanism sessingthese and other advantages an accomplishing these and other purposes'of simple, sturdy construction and unlikelyto require frequent repair, replace ment or readjustment of its parts Numerous other-"objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent as it; is

better' understo'od from the following de scription which taken in connection with the accom anyingdrawings discloses a pre-i ferred em diment thereo drive pulley and certain other the present inven- I the inven- Referring to the drawings,

looking from the right of the machine, the

removed for clearer illustration.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

parts being I Fi 2 is a fragmental side elevation lookmg rom the opposite side ofthe machine.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on the line'4-4 of Fig.

3 and Figs. 15, 6, and 7 are partial sectional views of the sheet separating mechanism taken similarly and on an enlarged scale.

v Fig. 8 is-a 'fragmental front view illus trating'more in detail the sheet separating mechanism.

n the drawing reference character 11 represents a. frame of any suitable form or construction adapted to support the operatingportions, mechanisms and devices selected for the purpose -of illustrating this invention. "At the front a bracket 12 supports a stack holder. composed of side bars 13 and bottom bars 14. The bars 13 and 14 1 may extend out and up at the slight-incline jshownin Fig. 1 as far as may be required and may be supported in any, suitable. fashion at their front or forward ends. The bars 14 are secured directly a to cross member '15 of the bracket 12 as sated at 16" and the bars 13 aresecured supports 17 The ds of the bars 14 are 'pstanding cleats or y upturned as indicated at 18 to confine the .lower edge of the -rearmost sheet ofythe stack andthrough this sheet tocombine the bottom of successive sheets in the stack. In the present instance no means are pro-' v'ided for engagingthe vertical side edges v p of the sheets'of the stack and in order to- 9 preventfvertical bucking I prefer to give to the rearmost sheet and thr oughit to the succeeding sheets a sli ht bend or "bowed" formation (seen best in ly or transversel of the sheet. The n turned ends 18 o the bars 14 are given t e ngular arrangement shown to facilitate his horizontal bend as will presently be moife lfullyf explained. The sheets stand in" the stack on edge and in upright 'or nearly vertical position. They are, how--v iever, inclined slightly toward the rearto insure themlfrom-fallin'gforward in the stack.

ig. 3) horizontal- Means are provided for removing a rearmost sheet of the stack at each feedingaction. In this action the top of each sheet as it is fed from the stack is first bent rearwardly and the next succeeding sheet engaged at or near the to to insure separation and the feeding o the sheets singly;

thereafter the rear sheet is lifted and pulled away from the stack and'then permitted to drop. The mechanism for accomplishing this separation and removal of the sheet from the stack will now be described.

The frame is provided'with side uprights 'i 21, which uprights form bearings for two shafts 22 and 23 each of whichreceives a characteristic oscillation as: will be presently explained. I The shaft 23 carries a pressure arm or member 24 adapted to bear upon the rear-face of the rearmost sheet of the stack near but beneath the. top and while in the drawings this arm is located at the center' of the sheet transverselyit will be understood that additional arms may be provided with corresponding arrangement .and location. v

A suction device comprising in the present instance a back 25 and two suction cups 26 is supported from the shaft 22.- The back 25 is pivoted to an arm 27 in turn pivoted to a crank pin 28 upon a collar 29 fast" on the shaft 22. In the operation of the sheet separating mechanism the top" of the sheet is pulled away from the next ad'acent sheet by the suction device and a mem r 41 having an. operating finger 42 is thrust down back of the next adjacent sheet to confine its top ed e against movement after the separation. he member 41 is'pivoted on the pin 28 and has a tail'43 arranged between the shaft 23 and the the arm 24. The upturned ends operate with the finger 42 to 've .a controlled bend to the rearmost s eet of the stack and through the rearmost sheet to the succeeding sheets in suflicient amount to revent the sheets from buckling or hen ing vertically. The arm 27 produces like action in cooperation with the ends 18 of the ba'rs14.

By reason of the characteristic movements.

. hangs in a pocket member 45 ivoted to the pivot pin connecting the bee 25 and the link 27 and pivoted also at 47 to the. arm 24. A stop or set screw 46 pushes the sucguiding pin 44 carried by 18 of-"the bars 14 coy .tion head 26 intocontactwith the rear of the real-most sheet of the stack and above the point of contact between the arm 24 and causes the suction head to be tilted backwardly and away from the stack bending out the top of the sheet at the-center portion of its top edge and the member 41 is moveddown as shown to engage behind the next adjacent sheet asshown in Fig. 6. Thereafter the parts move as will be readily understood into the position shown in Fig. 7.

. Referring now to Fig. 3 reference character 51 indicates a main power shaft arranged beneath the .top of the frame 11- and carrying a beltpulley 52. A cam 54 is mounted upon this shaft and this cam" is engaged by a cam follower roll 55" operating within the cam groove 53 (Fig. 1) said roller being mounted upon a pitman 56 having one end bifurcated at 57 to straddle the shaft 51 and the other end connected with an arm 58 fast 'on the end of shaft 22.

A cam 59 is' arranged at the other or o posite end of the shaft 51 and is engaged y a follower roll 60 (Fi 2) operating within the cam groove 61 0 said cam 59 and said roll 60is mounted upon a itman 64 in turn connected with an arm- 65 ast on shaft 23.

The suction or vacuum is created in the suction devices by an exhaust cylinder 71 mounted on an upright 21 and connected by a conduit 72 in part rigid and in part flexible with the suction heads. A plunger 73 is mounted in' this cylinder and the plunger rod 74 isconnected to a lever 75 carr ing a follower roll 76 engaging a cam 77 (Tigs. -3 an'd 4) on shaft 51, a spring 78 being provided to caus'e'the follower to ride properl upon the-cam. A vent 62 is provided t rough the cylinder wall near its bottom, and the actionof the cam is such that the plunger reaches the top of its stroke just before application of the suction is desired. During the upward stroke the 'plun er is driving the. air in the cylinder out t rou' h the suction head. During the is in icated in Fi 7. When the suction is broken the sheet rops into a pocket 81 arranged therebeneath which limits its fall. A wall 82 of this pocket is so arranged that the top ed e of the sheet is brought into contact wit or closely adjacent to a drum 83 on shaft 51. This drum or roll is provided with an e'lectromagnet 84 at a-point in .down stro e of the plunger the suction is' of the drum and in its continued otation engages the sheet to insure its forward feed.

An electric currentis supplied to the magnet 84 from wires 91 leading to brushes 92 of a contact ring 93, the faces of which are connected to the windings of the magnet and the arrangement is such that current is supplied to the magnet just before rotation of the drum brings the magnet up to adjacent the top edge of the sheet. Current is cut ofl from the magnet as soon as the magnet is aboutto depart from the sheet on its downward stroke. I x

The purpose of the magnet and drum arrangement is to arrange the sheets in processional order and in the structure shown on the drawings to feed them edgewise and horizontal. To this end conveyor chains 101 taking over sprockets 102 let into the drum are provided.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and ar-' rangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination, of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position and in bowed formation with their rear faces concave and with the sheets resting upon their lower edges, the rear of said stack being substantially open and said stack holder permitting the insertion of quantities of sheets in the front thereof, and means for successively withdrawing the sheets from the back of the stack and in an initial direction sub-.

stantially at right angles to the plane of the individual sheet.

2. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position with the sheets resting upon their 'lower edges, the

stack of sheets in said holder being open at the front for insertion of sheets and the back for their removal, and means for slightly bowing the sheets while in .the stackv 1n a horizontal direction to prevent vertical buckling of the sheets.

3. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a stack holder for holding The cooperating fricstack means for confining the bottom of the rear sheet of the stack and means separating the a stack of sheets in uprightposition with the-sheets resting upon their lower edges,

the stack of sheets in said holder being open.

at the front for insertion of sheets and the back for their removal, and a plurality of devices for alternately engaging the rear faces of the upper parts of thesheets while their side edges are left free, for producing a controlled bending of the sheet at the rear.

5. In a sheet feedin mechanism, the com- 1 bination of a stackolder for holding a stack of sheets inupright position with the sheets resting upon their lower edges, the

stack of sheets in said .holder being open at the front for insertion of sheets and the back for their removal, and the sheets being in bowed formation while they are in the stack, members engaging the bottoms of the sheets and members for engagin and individually withdrawing the tops 0% as they are presented for separation from the remainder of the stack.

- 6. In a sheetfeeding mechanism, the com,-

bination of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position'with the sheets resting upon their lower edges, the

. stack of sheets in said holder being open at the front for insertion of sheets and the back for their removal, members engaging the bottoms of the; sheets and members for engaging and individually withdrawing the tops of the sheet as they are presented for separation from the remainder of-the stack,

said'last mentioned members being operable to lift the sheet out of engagement with said first mentioned members, and a finger mova'ble towards and from the; stack and also upward and downward. v, 7 In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a stack holder adapted to support a stack of sheets in upright position and in bowed and rearwardly concave formation but inclined sufficiently towards the rear to maintain the sheets in contact, said holder being unobstructed at the sides,

top of the rear sheet from the next adjacent sheet.

the sheet 8. In asheet feeding mechanism, the-combination of a stack holder adapted to support a stack of sheets in 11 right position and in bowed and rearward y concave for- .sheet near its top, a member for mation but inclined sufliciently towards therear. to maintain the sheets in contact, said stack holder being imobstructed at the sides,

means for confining the bottom of the-rear sheet of the stack and means separating the -top of the. rear sheet from thenext adjacentsheet, and acting thereafter to with- "draw said rear sheet, and means acting in advance of the. withdrawing. movement of said first mentioned means for temporarily confining the top ofthe next adjacent sheet.

9. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the come liination of a stack holder adapted tocontain a stack'of sheets arranged-on. edge and means .for withdrawing the rearmost sheet of the stack, said means including a finger member pressing upon the rearmost sheet near its top and a .member acting thereabove to move the top edge of such sheet away from the stack, and means for moving said fin er. member towards and away from the Staci.

10. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of. a stack holder adapted to contain a stack of sheets arranged on edge and means for Withdrawing the rearmost sheet of the stack, said means including a.

member for pressing upon the rearmost ressmg the'rearmos't sheet of the stack agamst the next adjacent sheet and a suction device engaging the rearmost sheet above said pressure memberto pull the topof the sheet away from said next adjacent sheet, and

means for moving'said pressure member towards and from the stack. a 11'. In a sheet. feeding mechanism, the

combination of a stack holder ada'ptedto contain a stack ofsheets arranged on edge and means for withdrawing the rearmost sheets of the' stack, said means including a member for pressing upon the rearmost sheet near'its top, a member for ressing therearmost sheet of the stack against the next adjacent sheet and a suction device engaging the rearmost sheet above said pressure memberto pull the-top of the sheet away from said next'ad'acent sheet, said pressure ;member and S211d.-Sl1Ctl 0Tl device -r;be1ng Imovable. awa' from the stack to carry the realmost s eet to separated position, and means -for moving said pressure memberrearward .and forward" and also downwardand upward. a a 1 12. In "a sh ft feeding mechanism, the combination of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position, means 1 ally 0 moving the real-most sheet of the stack laterally of its plane away from the stack and then permitting it to drop vertically, a member for engaging the lower edge of the sheet to limit .the vertical fall and magnetic means gripping the upper edge of the sheet and directing it in a horizontal feedmg movement.

13. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the

combination of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheetsin upright position, means moving the rearmost sheet of the stack laterally of its plane away from the stack and then permitting it to drop verti cally, a member for engaging the lower edge of the sheet to limit the vertical fall, rollers for engaging the upper edge of the sheet and feeding it to. a horizontal position and means directing the upper edge of said sheet between said rollers.

14. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position, means the rearmost sheet of the stack lateritsplane away from the stack and then permitting it to drop vertically, a member -for engaging the lower edge of the sheet to limit the vertical fall, rollers for engaging the upper edge of the sheet and feeding it to a horizontal position and means pulling the upper edge vof said sheetbetween moving said rollers.

15. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination offa stack holder for holding a stack of sheets in upright position, means moving the rearmostsheet of the stack latterally of its plane away from the stack and then permittingit to drop vertically, a memher for engaging thelower edge of the sheet to limit the vertical fall, and magnetic means arranged to' engage the under side of the sheet for moving the sheet into a horizontal' feeding movement.

; Keenan.

fposition, means her -for engaging the lower edge of the sheet I x then permitting it to rop vertically, a mem- 

